Pneumatic-control means for paper feeding and folding mechanisms



M. PARIDON Rov. 8, 1932.

PNEUMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR PAPER FEEDING AND FOLDING- MECHANISMS Filed May 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. PARIDON Nov. 8, 193,2.

PNEUMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR PAPER FEEDING AND FOLJDING' MECHANISMS F-iled May 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICHAEL PARIDON,

OF BARBERTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE. DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND Application filed May 12, 1931. Serial No. 536,775.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for use in connection with pneumatically-com trolled paper feeding mechanism; more especially the cover feeding mechanism of 5 match machines whereby covers are successively delivered by a suction slide in the path of a reciprocating former blade which co-operates with a suitable guide structure to fold one end of each cover and insert the folded end into an adjacent conveyer which carries the cover to the match inserting station, such, for example, as illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,0%2,t72, dated October 29, 1912.

In the machine referred to stacks if past-eboard covers are contained in two spaced magazines, the bottoms whereof are formed by the perforated tops of horizontally-reciproeating chambered slides, the chambers of which are constantly exhausted through an air line leading to a suitable pump. Each succeeding lowermost cover of each magazine is held flatwise on the underlying slide and is carried thereby from the magazine to a position with one end of the cover in the path of a reciprocating former blade, which blade thereupon descends upon the cover in a manner to force the latter through the guide structure, the end of the cover, and set IOICL the fold within the adjacent link of a conveyer. The slide remains at rest during the folding and setting operation and then moves back toward the magazine. The vacuum in each chambered slide is of constant force and the blanks are held under great pressure on the slide in opposition to the folding action of the blade, thus tending to impair the uniform formation of the fold, particularly when the machine is run at high speed.

To overcome this objection is the object of my present invention, and to that end I provide in the air line a novel valve construction which ensures a vacuum of high degree to hold the cover firmly on the feed slide until the former blade initially engages the cover, and then efiects a vacuum of merely sufficient degree to prevent displacement of the blank on the slide during the formation of the fold, as will be hereinafter described and claimed. 50 In the drawings a flexible tube 16 in Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the cover receiving end of a matchbook machine equipped with vacuum control mechanismembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, as on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. .3 is a vertical section of one of the feed slides and the adjacent magazine.

F 1g. 4 is a vertical section of the valve casing, showing the rotary control valve and adjuncts, the valve being in its full open position. i

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, as on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar section showing the valve in position to reduce the vacuum when the blade is engaged with the cover blank.

1g. is a similar view showing the valve in closed position during the return of the slide to its initial positon beneath the magazine.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a supporting frame, including a table 11, and 12 designates two spaced cover-containing magazines supported by the brackets 13 on the table.

l4 designates horizontal chambered slides mounted in guideways in the respective brackets and constituting bottoms for the magaz nes. The top of each slide beneath its magazine is provided in its upper surface with a series of perforations 15 and the chamber of the slide is connected at one end with communication with a suitable pump (not shown), whereby air is removed from the chamber, and the lowermost cover (C) in the magazine is thus held flatwise upon the perforated portion of the slide. Hence by reciprocating the slide to move its perforated portion under and beyond the magazine the lowermost covers are successively removed from the magazine.

The upper ends of the flexible tubes 16 are connected to a pipe 17 from which a suction pipe 18 leads to the pump, the pipe 17 being supported by a bracket 19 rising from the table.

The slides 14 beneath the respective magazines are simultaneously actuated to move a cover from each of the magazines. In the top to bottom a curved passage 25 whereof the outer side is open and the top is directly below one end of the adjacent cover when it 'is withdrawn from the magazine by the suction slide; v

26 designates two curved blades corresponding with the respective passages of the members 24 and adapted to swing into and from the same. Each blade in its downward stroke engages the opposing end-portion of the positioned cover and tucks it down into the passage, thereby effecting the folding of such end, carrying the cover bodily through the curved passage, and setting the foldwithin the link of an endless conveyer 27 which is intermittently impelled, along the top of the table in the usual manner.

The two blades 26 are borne by arms 28 which are mounted on and concurrentlyoperated by a rock-shaft 29 having its bearings in brackets 30 rising from the table. On the shaft is an arm 31 which is Jointed to an arm 32 rising from a rock-shaft 33 below the table. On the shaft 33 is a lever 34, one

arm of which carries a roll 35 which engages the cam way of a cam wheel 36 on the shaft 23, and is thereby actuated to effect the timely operation of the rock-shaft 33.

The construction and operation offthe foregoing described mechanism are such that when the folding blades are up, the slides 14 are pushed forward towcarry the cover blanks directly under the blades, which blades then descend upon the blanks. The slides then remain at rest for an interval and move back toward the magazines. When the slides are about half way back the folding blades have reached 'theirextreme down position. In the next or return stroke of the blades the slides continue back to their original position under the magazines in readiness to push forward the next succeeding covers.

The portion of the carrier supported on the table is intermittently driven to present two of the links to the open ends of the respective passages 25 of the guioe members 24 in timed relation to the operation of the folding blades so as to receive the end folded covers, and the remainder of the carrier is continuously driven through suitable, gearmg, including asprocket chainv37, as fully described in Patent No. 1,042,472, aforesaid.

,journal extensions 42 mounted in cap bearings 43 on the casing. Inthe present instance one of the journal extensions is provided with a gear 44 in mesh withthe upper run of the continuously driven sprocket chain 37 which is included in the driving mechanism for thecover conveyer, and therefore the valve is rotated in timed relation to the travel of the conveyer. The valve body is formed with'a diametrical through-port'45 having at its respective ends oppositely-extending segmental grooves 46 which are so formed and arranged in relation to thexports 40, 41 of the casing, when the valve body is mounted in the latter, that in an interval of the rotation of the valve body when the folding blades 26 are up and the slides 14 are being moved to carry the covers under the blades, full'communication is afiorded between the ports .40, 41, (asseen in Fig. 5). thus ensuring the maximum suction on the covers and their consequent effective retention on the slides; and thereupon upon the descent of the blades, at the moment they come in contact with the covers, the ends of theport 45 pass across and beyondthe respective ports 40, 41, thus cutting off the communication between the latter K 0 ports andperforce releasing the covers from the suction force. In the rotation ofthe valve body as the ends of the port 45 move across the respective ports 40, 41 the suction is gradually reduced, (as seen in Fig. 6) thus L 9 preventing displacement of the covers on the slides during the initial formation of the folds, and ensuring the uniform formation of the folds. lVhile the blades are completing their descent, and vwhile they are return- 6 1 ing'for a succeeding operation,'the suction is cut off by the valve, and as the slides are returning beneath the magazines, thevalve is again opened and in consequence the respective underlying covers are subjected to 3 1 the suction preparatory to their transference to the path of the blades, andso on.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the-particular construction herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be 12 modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. In combination with a coverconveyer, meansincluding a reciprocating member for folding covers and inserting them in said conveyer,-and mechanism including a feed member having a-suction chamber and an exhaust conduit therefor for feeding covers to the path of the reciprocating member, a

valve for controlling communication between the conduit and said chamber, said valve having a port therein constructed and arranged to effect in the operation of the valve the periodical opening and closing of the communication between the conduit and the chamber, and means for operating said valve in timed relation with the said folding and feeding members.

2. In combination with a cover conveyer, means including a reciprocating member for folding covers and inserting them in said conveyer, and mechanism including a feed member having a suction chamber and an exhaust conduit therefor for feeding the covers to the path of the reciprocating member, a valve for controlling communication be tween the conduit and said chamber, said valve having a through port therein with trailing end portions, and means for operating said valve in timed relation with the said folding and feeding members.

3. In combination with a cover conveyer, means including a reciprocating member for folding covers and inserting them in said conveyer, and mechanism including a feed member having a suction chamber and an exhaust conduit therefor for feeding the covers to the path of the reciprocating member, a rotary valve for controlling communication between the conduit and said chamber, said valve having a diametrical through port with oppositely-disposed end grooves, and means for rotating said valve in timed relation with the folding and feeding members.

4. In combination with a cover conveyer, means including a chain for actuating said conveyer, means including a reciprocating member for folding covers and inserting them in the conveyor, and mechanism including a member having a suction chamber and an exhaust conduit therefor for feeding the covers to the path of the reciprocating folding member, a rotary valve for controlling the communication between the conduit and said chamber, and a gear on said valve in mesh with the said actuating chain, where by the valve is rotated in timed relation with the folding and feeding members.

Signed at Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 8th day of May,

MICHAEL PARIDON. 

